Information handling system including wireless scanning feature

ABSTRACT

An information handling system (IHS) is provided which includes a wireless section that detects the presence of an available wireless network on which the IHS can communicate. When an initialize scan switch is actuated, the wireless section is powered up to perform a scan while other sections of the IHS remain unpowered. In this manner, an available wireless network can be detected without fully powering up the IHS to check for wireless network connections.

BACKGROUND

The disclosures herein relate generally to information handling systems(IHS's) and more particularly to information handling systems thatcommunicate using wireless technology.

As the value and use of information continue to increase, individualsand businesses seek additional ways to process and store information.One option available to users is information handling systems. Aninformation handling system (IHS) generally processes, compiles, stores,and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or otherpurposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of theinformation. Because technology and information handling needs andrequirements vary between different users or applications, informationhandling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled,how the information is handled, how much information is processed,stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the informationmay be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in informationhandling systems allow for information handling systems to be general orconfigured for a specific user or specific use such as financialtransaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage,or global communications. In addition, information handling systems mayinclude a variety of hardware and software components that may beconfigured to process, store, and communicate information and mayinclude one or more computer systems, data storage systems, andnetworking systems.

Today's IHS's often communicate with other IHS's via wirelessconnections that are made using technologies such as IEEE 802.11,Bluetooth and general packet radio service (GPRS), for example.Typically the IHS is fully powered up before it can make a determinationas to whether or not a wireless network connection is present andavailable for communication in the IHS's locale. For example, a personaldigital assistant (PDA), cell phone or portable computer is fullypowered up before it can make a “wireless network present”determination. Fully powering up and booting an IHS such as a portablecomputer can take a significant amount of time before the “wirelessnetwork present” determination can be made. This time delay can be veryinconvenient for the user. Moreover, fully powering up a battery powereddevice to determine the presence of a wireless network can reducebattery operation time. Standalone wireless “finders” are currentlyavailable to determine the presence of a wireless network. Unfortunatelythe IHS user must pay the added expense of a wireless finder separatefrom the IHS when that approach is used. Such a standalone finder hasthe disadvantage of being yet one more device to carry when the IHS isused as a portable IHS. Moreover, the standalone finder has nocoordination with the wireless transceiver in the IHS.

What is needed is an IHS which is capable of making a “wireless networkpresent” determination while addressing the problems described above.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, in one embodiment, a method is disclosed for operating aninformation handling system (IHS) including powering up a wirelesssection of the IHS to detect the presence of a wireless network whileother sections of the IHS remain unpowered. The method also includesproviding an indication to the user that a wireless network is presentwith which the IHS can communicate.

In another embodiment, an information handling system (IHS) is disclosedwhich includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. TheIHS also includes a wireless section, coupled to the processor, which ispowered up to detect the presence of a wireless network external to theIHS while other sections of the IHS remain unpowered. The IHS furtherincludes an indicator, coupled to the wireless section, to provide anindication to the user that a wireless network is present with which theIHS can communicate.

A principal advantage of one or more of the embodiments disclosed hereinis that the IHS can detect the presence of a wireless network withoutthe IHS being fully powered up and/or booted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the disclosed information handling system.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart depicting process flow in the disclosedinformation handling system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the disclosed information handling system(IHS) 100. For purposes of this disclosure, an information handlingsystem (IHS) may include any instrumentality or aggregate ofinstrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit,receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect,record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information,intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or otherpurposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personalcomputer, a network storage device, or any other suitable device and mayvary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. Theinformation handling system may include random access memory (RAM), oneor more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) orhardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types ofnonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handlingsystem may include one or more disk drives, one or more network portsfor communicating with external devices as well as various input andoutput (I/O) devices, such as a video display, a keyboard, a mouse,voice inputs and other human interface devices (HIDs). The informationhandling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmitcommunications between the various hardware components.

In one embodiment, IHS 100 is a portable system such as a notebook,laptop, PDA or other portable, battery-powered system. IHS 100 includesa processor 105 such as an Intel Pentium series processor or one of manyother processors currently available. An Intel Hub Architecture (IHA)chipset 110 provides IHS 100 with glue-logic that connects processor 105to other components of IHS 100. Chipset 110 carries out graphics/memorycontroller hub functions and I/O functions. More specifically, chipset110 acts as a host controller which communicates with a graphicscontroller 115 coupled thereto. Graphics controller 115 is coupled to adisplay 120. Chipset 110 also acts as a controller for main memory 125which is coupled thereto. Chipset 110 further acts as an I/O controllerhub (ICH) which performs I/O functions. Input devices 130 such as amouse, keyboard, and tablet, are also coupled to chipset 110 at theoption of the user. An expansion bus 135, such as a Peripheral ComponentInterconnect (PCI) bus, PCI Express bus, SATA bus or other bus iscoupled to chipset 110 as shown to enable IHS 100 to be connected toother devices which provide IHS 100 with additional functionality. Auniversal serial bus (USB) 140 or other I/O bus is coupled to chipset110 to facilitate the connection of some peripheral devices to IHS 100.System basic input-output system (BIOS) 145 is coupled to chipset 110 asshown. BIOS software 145 is stored in nonvolatile memory such as CMOS orFLASH memory. A network interface controller (NIC) 150 is coupled tochipset 110 to facilitate connection of system 100 to other informationhandling systems. A media drive controller 155 is coupled to chipset 110so that devices such as media drive 160 can be connected to chipset 110and processor 105. Devices that can be coupled to media drive controller155 include CD-ROM drives, DVD drives, hard disk drives and other fixedor removable media drives. IHS 100 includes an operating system which isstored on media drive 160. Typical operating systems which can be storedon media drive 160 include Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows 2000and the Linux operating systems. (Microsoft and Windows are trademarksof Microsoft Corporation.) It should be understood that the technologydisclosed herein is not only applicable to the embodiment of FIG. 1 butis also applicable to the other types of IHSs described above.

IHS 100 includes a housing 102 in which the components of the IHS aresituated. IHS 100 includes a wireless card 170 that is coupled tochipset 110 as shown. Wireless card 170 is modular and is plugged into amating connector (not shown) in the IHS. Other embodiments are possiblewherein the functionality of wireless card 170 is integrated in amotherboard or other circuit board within IHS 100. An antenna 175 iscoupled to wireless card 170. Wireless card 170 includes a nonvolatilememory 180 for storing firmware 225 and/or other information thatgoverns the operation of card 170 as it transmits and receivesinformation from a wireless network 185.

Wireless card 170 is capable of detecting the presence of usable localwireless networks such as network 185 even when IHS 100 is powered downor in a reduced power state such as a suspend mode. In other words, itis not necessary to fully power up IHS 100 to determine the presence ofa usable local wireless network. Sections of IHS 100 other than wirelesscard 170 can be powered down or operating in a reduced power state andyet wireless card 170 is still capable of detecting the presence of awireless network or networks. Depending on the particular application,wireless card 170 is capable of detecting the presence of an IEEE802.11, Bluetooth, or GPRS wireless network. Of course other embodimentsare possible where wireless card 170 is capable detecting wirelessnetworks using other protocols as well. Moreover, wireless card 170 maytake the form of a plug-in module or may be integrated within the IHS.The term “wireless section” includes wireless cards, wireless modulesand other wireless circuitry within the IHS, whether integrated ornon-integrated.

An AC adapter 190 is coupled to AC mains 195 and to power switch 200. Abattery 205 is coupled to power switch 200 to provide IHS 100 with analternative source of power. Power switch 200 is coupled to wirelesscard 170 to provide wireless card 170 with either main power orauxiliary (AUX) power. In other words, wireless card 170 can be coupledto a main power rail and/or an auxiliary power rail which are indicatedcollectively as rail 210. The auxiliary power rail is a power rail whichmay provide less current than the main power rail and may be availablewhen the main power is off. The auxiliary power rail is connected to asubset of the entire IHS 100, namely wireless card 170 and thus drawsless power than if the entire IHS 100 were powered. Main power goes toall subsystems in the IHS whereas auxiliary power may not. Auxiliarypower may be provided to a particular subsystem or particular subsystemsof the IHS.

Power switch 200 provides power to wireless card 170 upon the occurrenceof a particular event, such as for example the user pressing aninitialize scan (INITSCAN) button or switch 215. Initialize scan switch215 is coupled to an input of a three input OR gate 220, the output ofwhich is coupled to power switch 200. When the user closes initializescan switch 215, power switch 200 provides adapter or battery power towireless card 170. Wireless card 170 is thus provided power without theneed to fully power up the entire remainder of IHS 100. Statedalternatively, the wireless section of the IHS is powered without theneed to fully power the remaining sections or portions of the IHS. Theremaining sections of the IHS can be in a reduced power state such as asuspend state or an off state and wireless card 170 can still detect thepresence of a wireless network nearby. Another embodiment iscontemplated wherein the user's action is not needed to activate scanswitch 215 to initiate a scan. For example, the IHS can be configuredsuch that a scan is initiated at predetermined fixed or variable timeintervals.

In one embodiment, wireless card 170 executes firmware 225 stored in itsmemory 180. Firmware 225 directs wireless card 170 to listen for thepresence of local wireless networks. This can be done by wireless card170 listening for beacon signals from such networks. In anotherembodiment, firmware 225 directs wireless card 170 to listen for thepresence of wireless networks which are available for use by IHS 100,namely those wireless networks that IHS 100 is authorized to use orindicated in pre-configured profiles 250 that identify preferrednetworks. When wireless card 170 detects the presence of such a wirelessnetwork, it provides an indication to the user that such a wirelessnetwork is present. For example, an integrated indicator 230, such as anLED, that is built into wireless card 170 may be lit to signal thepresence of an available wireless network 185. In another embodiment, anindicator 235 is coupled to wireless card 170 via a scan result bus 240.Scan result bus 240 transmits information to indicator 235 such as thepresence, type and signal strength of a detected wireless network. Scanresult bus 240 can also provide the names of detected wireless networksand their respective signal strengths. In embodiments where indicator235 shows the presence of one or more wireless networks, multiple LEDscan be used to provide this indication. However, for embodiments wherethe names of accessible networks are to be provided, indicator 235 canbe a more complex display such as an LCD display, for example, which iscapable of displaying alphanumeric textual information. In embodimentswhere it is desirable to display even more complex information to theuser, scan result bus 240 is coupled to chipset 110 so that theinformation can be displayed on display 120 which is a relatively largedisplay capable of displaying complex information. In this instance alarger portion of IHS 100 is powered up as needed to accommodatetransmission and display of scan result information on display 120. Innotebook, laptop, PDA and other similar IHSs, display 120 is typicallyintegrated in the IHS. In one embodiment, indicator 235 is variable orscalable. For example, indicator 235 can indicate the high or low signalstrength of a particular wireless network. In any particular locationthere may be multiple wireless networks present, such as wirelessnetworks 185, 186, 187 . . . N wherein N is the total number of wirelessnetworks which can be heard at a particular location. One or more ofthese networks may be preferred by the user as so indicated by the userin a profile 250 stored in the IHS.

While OR gate 220 is indicated as a discrete element, the logicalfunction of the OR gate can also be implemented in firmware or software.OR gate 220 also includes a WAKE signal input. When a WAKE signal isasserted on the WAKE input of OR gate 220, wireless card 170 is turnedon so it can be responsive to any wake-on-wireless LAN activity. It isnecessary to turn wireless card 170 on to provide this wake-on-wirelessLAN functionality. Thus, after being turned on in this manner, whenwireless card 170 detects wireless activity it sends information back toIHA 110 via data/control bus 245 to instruct remaining sections of theIHS other than wireless card 170 to wake from a reduced power state suchas a suspend state. OR gate 220 includes an OTHER PWRCTRL input to whicha signal is provided if it desired to turn on wireless card 170 for anyother reason.

One or more profiles 250 are stored in memory 180. For example, a workprofile and a home profile can be stored in memory 180. The profile caninclude the name of a network. For example, the work profile may includethe name of the wireless network used at the user's place of employment.The home profile may include the name of the user's home wirelessnetwork. When wireless card 170 is powered up, as for example occurswhen initialize scan switch 215 is closed by the user or the WAKE inputis otherwise activated, then wireless card 170 scans or looks for thepresence of wireless networks whose names, or other identifying indicia,are specified in the profiles 250 stored in memory 180. Since theprofiles are stored within wireless card 170 itself, wireless card 170is capable of self-determining whether or not the wireless networksspecified in profiles 250 are present and available to the user of IHS100.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart which depicts process flow in IHS 100 as itsearches to detect the presence of an available wireless network whichis usable by IHS 100. The steps depicted in FIG. 2 can be implemented byIHS 100 without powering up all of the circuitry of IHS 100. Thefirmware 225, that governs the operation of wireless card 170 is itsearches for wireless connections, may be implemented as a state machinein hardware if desired. It is also noted that memory 180 which containsfirmware 225 may optionally be located at other locations in IHS 100than wireless card 170 as long as the firmware is available to governthe operation of wireless card 170. As seen in the FIG. 2 flowchart,process flow starts at start block 300. A test is then conducted indecision block 305 to determine if initialize scan switch 215 has beenactivated by the user. It is noted that scan switch activation can beviewed as an event. If scan switch 215 has not been activated then thetest continues to run. However, if the user has activated or pressedinitialize scan switch 215, then main power or auxiliary power isenabled to wireless card 170 as per block 310. In response, wirelesscard 170 powers up and starts scanning to detect wireless networks asper block 315. At this point, wireless card 170 is powered up andremaining sections of the IHS are not supplied power or are in a reducedpower or suspend state. When wireless card 170 detects the presence of awireless network, then a test is conducted to determine if theparticular detected wireless network is usable by IHS 100 as perdecision block 320. For example, decision block 320 may determine if IHS100 is authorized or configured to access the particular detectedwireless network. In making this determination, decision block 320 canaccess profiles 250 stored in memory 180 to determine if any of thenetwork names stored in the profiles matches a name of a detectedwireless network. If no match is detected, then in one embodiment,process flow continues back to decision block 305 at which the IHScontinues to monitor for a pressing of the initialize scan switch 215.However, if a match is found between a network name in a profile and thename of one of the detected networks, then wireless card 170 providesappropriate feedback to the user as per block 325. For example, anindicator 235 such as an LED can be lit to signify that a wirelessnetwork has been detected. The indicator can be integrated in wirelesscard 170 in a fashion such that it is still visible to the user when thewireless card is plugged into IHS 100. Alternatively, the indicator canbe placed at another location on IHS 100 that will be visible to theuser. A more sophisticated indicator such as an LCD display can be usedas indicator 235 to display the name of a detected network which matchesa name in a stored profile. In that case, the wireless network isdesignated as a detected and available wireless network. Indicator 235can also display the signal strength of a particular detected wirelessnetwork 185 or multiple detected wireless networks as well as the namesof the particular detected available wireless networks. Other forms offeedback can also be used as indicator 235. For example, differentsounds can be used to indicate that a wireless network is detected.After the indication is provided as described above, the IHS then waitsfor a predetermined period of time before withdrawing power and shuttingdown wireless card 170. More particularly, a test is conducted atdecision block 330 to determine if the time period has expired. The timeperiod is selected to be sufficiently long to enable the user enoughtime to be cognizant of the indication. Once the time period expires,power is withdrawn from wireless card 170 thus turning the wireless cardoff as per block 335. The process ends at stop block 340. However, theprocess can restart by again commencing to monitor for an activation ofinitialize scan switch 215 as per block 305.

Many variations of the disclosed information handling system arepossible. For example, initialize scan switch 215 of FIG. 1 can takedifferent forms such as a dedicated physical switch or a shared physicalswitch. The scan switch can also be a key combination of a keyboard (notshown) plugged into HIS 100 as an I/O device. The scan switch can alsobe part of a multi-function switch or a programmable key/button. Scanswitch 215 can also be closed in response to a voice command or otheruser input method to initiate a scan.

The profiles discussed above indicate the preferred networks on whichthe user indicates that his or her IHS is to operate. Memory 180 storesthese profiles. More particularly, memory 180 stores sufficient profileor preferred network information to enable wireless card 170 toindependently determine matches between the detected wireless networksand those wireless networks that the user has indicated are preferred.This determination is made independently by wireless card 170 in thesense that the entire IHS need not be fully powered up to make thisdetermination. This has the advantage that the user is more quicklyapprised of detected available wireless networks since the IHS does notneed to be fully powered up. Both power and time are saved in oneembodiment. In one embodiment, if greater functionality is desired, forexample to display feedback on display 120, then a greater portion ormore sections of the IHS can be powered up. It is also noted that IHS100 can detect wireless networks prior to BIOS being loaded, prior todevice enumeration and/or prior to the operating system being loaded.

It is also noted that not the entire wireless card 170 needs to bepowered up to perform the wireless network detection function. In oneembodiment, wireless card 170 includes a receive section and a transmitsection. The receive section is powered up to look for and detectavailable wireless networks 185. Power is saved by leaving the transmitsection off. In this embodiment the scanning action of the wireless cardis passive in that the card receives, namely it listens withouttransmitting. In another embodiment, both the transmit and receivesections of wireless card 170 are powered. In this case the scanningaction of the card is active and the transmitter section is operational.One example when this method is advantageous is to cover both broadcastand non-broadcast service set identifier (SSID) network configurations.A broadcast SSID network configuration is one in which the wirelessnetwork broadcasts a radio beacon signal which includes the SSID, ineffect saying “I am the network Y”. A non-broadcast SSID networkconfiguration is one in which the wireless network does not send out theSSID information in the radio beacon signal, but rather the wirelessnetwork listens for a query “Are you the network Y?” and if such a queryis received, the wireless network sends a reply which in effectcommunicates that “Yes, I am the network Y”.

Moreover, the scan result can be fed back from wireless card 170 to anindicator by different methodologies. Serial encoded scan resultinformation can be fed back along scan result bus 240 to indicator 235or another indicator. This serially coded information can drive a shiftregister or LCD displays. A serial bus such as SMBus or other busimplementations can be used to provide scan result feedback to anindicator which is perceivable by the user. When the IHS is in the formof a laptop, notebook computer or other IHS which folds to close, thescan switch and indicator are preferably positioned to be externallyvisible or accessible to the user such that the user need not open theIHS to use the disclosed wireless network detection feature of the IHS.

Advantageously, in one embodiment, the disclosed methodology andapparatus provide a way for an IHS to detect the presence of a wirelessnetwork usable for communication without powering up the entire IHS.While in the example discussed above, a wireless card is employed in IHS100, it should be understood that the functionality of the wireless cardcan be implemented as an integral part of the IHS. A separate removablewireless card or module need not be employed. It is also noted that thewireless card can be activated at various time intervals without userintervention to monitor for wireless networks.

Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a widerange of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in theforegoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of anembodiment may be employed without a corresponding use of otherfeatures. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims beconstrued broadly and in manner consistent with the scope of theembodiments disclosed herein.

1. A method of operating an information handling system (IHS)comprising: powering up a wireless section of the IHS to detect thepresence of a wireless network while other sections of the IHS remain ina reduced power state; and providing an indication to the user that awireless network is present with which the IHS can communicate.
 2. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the reduced power state is an off state. 3.The method of claim 1 wherein the reduced power state is a suspendstate.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless section is awireless card that plugs into the IHS.
 5. The method of claim 1 whereinpowering up the wireless section is done prior to device enumeration bythe IHS.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein powering up the wirelesssection is done prior to booting the IHS.
 7. The method of claim 1wherein powering up the wireless section is done prior to loading anoperating system by the IHS.
 8. The method of claim 1 includes actuatinga scan switch to commence powering up the wireless section.
 9. Themethod of claim 1 including powering up the wireless section in responseto a wake command.
 10. The method of claim 1 including providing powerto both the wireless section and at least one of the other sections ofthe IHS from a common power source.
 11. The method of claim 1 whereinthe wireless section and the other sections of the IHS are situated in acommon housing.
 12. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one light isused to provide the indication to the user.
 13. The method of claim 12wherein the at least one light is an LED.
 14. The method of claim 1wherein the indication is provided by an alphanumeric display.
 15. Themethod of claim 1 including storing profile information in a memoryaccessible to the wireless section.
 16. The method of claim 15 includinglocating the memory in the wireless section.
 17. The method of claim 15including determining if a detected network matches a network includedin a profile stored in the memory accessible to the wireless section.18. The method of claim 1 wherein powering up the wireless section isperformed with auxiliary power.
 19. The method of claim 1 whereinpowering up the wireless section is performed with main power.
 20. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the indication is variable.
 21. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the powering up a wireless section step is performed atpredetermined times.
 22. The method of claim 21 wherein thepredetermined times include fixed time intervals.
 23. An informationhandling system (IHS) comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to theprocessor; a wireless section, coupled to the processor, which ispowered up to detect the presence of a wireless network external to theIHS while other sections of the IHS remain in a reduced power state; andan indicator, coupled to the wireless section, to provide an indicationto the user that a wireless network is present with which the IHS cancommunicate.
 24. The IHS of claim 23 wherein the reduced power state isan off state.
 25. The IHS of claim 23 wherein the reduced power state isa suspend state.
 26. The IHS of claim 23 wherein the wireless section isa wireless card that plugs into the IHS.
 27. The IHS of claim 23 whereinthe wireless section is powered up to detect the presence of a wirelessnetwork prior to device enumeration by the IHS.
 28. The IHS of claim 23wherein the wireless section is powered up to detect the presence of awireless network prior to booting the IHS.
 29. The IHS of claim 23wherein the wireless section is powered up to detect the presence of awireless network prior to loading an operating system by the IHS. 30.The IHS of claim 23 including a scan switch coupled to the wirelesssection to power up the wireless section when actuated by a user. 31.The IHS of claim 23 including a common power source to provide power toboth the wireless section and at least one of the other sections of theIHS.
 32. The IHS of claim 23 wherein the remaining section includes theprocessor.
 33. The IHS of claim 23 including a common housing for boththe wireless section and the remaining section.
 34. The IHS of claim 23wherein the indicator includes a light.
 35. The IHS of claim 23 whereinthe indicator includes an LED.
 36. The IHS of claim 23 wherein theindicator includes an alphanumeric display.
 37. The IHS of claim 23wherein the wireless section includes a memory in which profileinformation is stored.
 38. The IHS of claim 23 wherein the wirelesssection determines if a detected network matches a network included inthe profile information.
 39. The IHS of claim 23 wherein auxiliary poweris provided to the wireless section.
 40. The IHS of claim 23 whereinmain power is provided to the wireless section.
 41. The IHS of claim 23wherein the indication is variable.
 42. The IHS of claim 23 wherein thepowering up a wireless section step is performed at predetermined times.43. The IHS of claim 42 wherein the predetermined times include fixedtime intervals.